Among the audience were 8 legislators and nearly a dozen aides representing elected officials from House Majority Leader Eric Cantor to state lawmakers. Legislators in attendance were state Sens. Stosch and Watkins, and state Dels. Farrell, Ingram, Massie, O’Bannon, and Robinson.

Also present were three members of the League’s lobbying team from Hunton & Williams. League President Rick Pillow emceed the introduction of elected officials.

Sen.-Elect Tim Kaine stopped by and again thanked credit union members and League leadership for endorsing his campaign. “I value earning your support and look forward to working with you,” he said. He said that Wednesday he was in Washington setting up his new office, and received a visitor who mentioned that the program Kaine worked on as governor with the Virginia Credit Union is attracting national attention. That program offers state employees short-term small loans paired with financial education in an effort to keep state staff away from predatory lenders.

Kaine also said he looked forward to working with credit unions especially in regards to his committee assignments on Armed Services and Budget, saying credit unions are good resources for information. He also acknowledged that credit unions provide capital to consumers and businesses.

Del. Peter Farrell gave the keynote address. He is a freshman, with the 2012 session being his first as a lawmaker, though he had staffed former state Sen. Ken Stolle. He noted that despite media headlines, most of the time legislators work together and pass bills without controversy. He likened the General Assembly to the fictional town of Brigadoon, that appears periodically and then magically vanishes.

He called the General Assembly a magical world that disappears after the session ends, with lawmakers returning to their jobs. He praised the part-time nature of the legislature and the diverse backgrounds of lawmakers, ranging from doctors to CPAs to teachers as well as attorneys. In fact Del. Robinson, an optometrist, had to leave early to make an 8:30 a.m. appointment.

Farrell paid tribute to credit unions, saying that he has a credit union in a high school in his district. He also mentioned the signature Credit Union Day red scarves, first seeing them when he worked as an aide. “I have one now myself, and I use it!” he said.